Patent GB-154284-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in combined talking and picture exhibiting apparatus
IPC: G03B31/00
Filed: 1919-08-12
Abstract: 154,284. Boyle, J. L. Aug. 12, 1919. Phonographic apparatus; rotary hinged leaves and the like.-Relates to mechanical means for automatically playing a succession of phonograph records and electrically controlling the exhibition of dissolving views to illustrate the records, for advertising and other purposes. Means are provided for compensating for one or more failures of the optical slidechanging device and for gauging by scales and pointers the timing of the movements of both machines. The apparatus may be coin-freed. Turntables. The turntables 26 are arranged hexagonally on a rotatable disk 15 which is normally locked by a pin 120, Fig. 4. The pin is periodically withdrawn by a slight rotation of the shaft 117, which is effected when the lever 123 mounted on this shaft is depressed by engagement of its cam surface 124 with a rod 125 depending from an arm 68 on the reproducing carriage 57, the arm 68 being lowered during the returnstroke of the carriage, but raised to clear the cam during the feed-stroke (see under " feed-motion "). The disk 15 may also be unlocked manually by raising the slide 172, Fig. 3. The tappet 173 then engages a latch 174, Figs. 3 and 5, to operate the unlocking lever 123, and the disk 15 can be turned manually by the knob 18. In automatic operatiun the disk 15 is turned by engagement of the same rod 125 with a lever-arm 128 on the shaft 127, Figs. 4 and 2, the motion of which is communicated by linkwork to a vertical finger 134<a> (Fig. 2, plan), which actuates the disk 15 ratchet-wise through pins 136. Each turntable is locked when out of action by a pin 154, Fig. 5, carried by a spring-pressed arm 152 mounted on the disk 15. It becomes unlocked when the cam surface 156<a> is engaged by the end of a lever 157 fixed to the clutch-arm 46 (see below), the arm 152 being then retained by the latch 164 on the fixed standard 13, until disengaged by the next movement of the disk 15. The turntable is driven by engagement of its gear 28 with gearing controlled by the clutch arm 46, which arm is an extension of the side bar 90 of the frame which controls the raising and lowering of the reproducer (described below). On being unclutched the turntable subsequently comes to rest by friction, and when the disk is turned the gear 28 engages a rubber-plate 170, Fig. 3, which rotates the turntable until the latter becomes locked by the pin 152. Feed-motion of reproducer. The reproducer arm 55 is borne by a sliding carriage 57. The carriage is moved by an arm 68, Fig. 4, bearing halfnuts 70, 71 which engage respectively the return screw 73 and feed-screw 33 according as the arm 68 is raised or lowered. The arm 68 is raised to cause the return motion of the carriage when a roller 102 carried by it is pressed upward by the bar 93 of the feed-control frame, whose side-bars 92 are pivoted at 94. This frame is raised when the lever 107, Figs 2, 4, and 5, is engaged by the cam-wheel 112 mounted eccentrically on the shaft of the return screw. The lever 107 is, at the end of a record, moved into position for such engagement by the lever 89, 86, 88, which is actuated' by a pivoted arm 81 when an adjustable stop 84 carried by this arm is pressed back by a frame 78 carried by the reproducer. During the completion of the return motion of the reproducer carriage, the outer frame 92, 93 is held by a latch 114. To begin the feed-motion, the frame is pulled down by a spring 95 on the latch 114 being tripped by an arm 164<b>, 145, 146<c> pivoted at 146, Figs. 2 and 3, and actuated by the frame 78 on the reproducer through a pivoted arm 140 having an adjustable stop 143, Figs. 5 and 2. The outer frame 92, 93 is lowered gently owing to the fact that a pawl 168 carried by it engages a ratchet-wheel 167 in the feed-screw shaft. To adjust the reproducer carriage by hand, the arm 68 is disengaged from the feed and return screws by turning the knob 175<a>, Figs. 3 and 5, to raise the sliding rod 172. Raising and lowering of reproducer is effected by the turntable clutch-oontrol-frame 90, 91 referred to above. This frame comprises a cross-bar 91 and side-bars 90 pivoted at 94 inside the feed-controlling frame 92, 93, Figs. 2 and 5. The reproducer is raised at the end of a record when the outer frame 92, 93 rises as described above, carrying with it the inner frame 90, 91, which it engages by stops 104. The bar 91 of the frame is secured against a roller 100 on an arm 97 which serves to raise the arm 62, which supports the reproducer arm 55. When the frame 92, 93 falls at the beginning of a record the frame 90, 91 is normally free to fall under tension of the spring 95. The reproducer and inner or clutch-control frame 90, 91 may, however, be held up still longer by the frame 78 resting on the support 148, which is adjustably mounted on an arm 150 beside the arm 140. When the reproducer fails off the support it is lowered gently on to the record by a pawl 165, which is carried by the inner frame 90, 91 and engages a ratchet-wheel 167 carried by the feedscrew.shaft. Positioning needle on record. The record is set on the turntable by the aid of an arrow-head 152<b>, Fig. 2. A pointer 80 on the hinged frame 79, Figs. 2 and 3, gauges the setting of each support 148, which determines the point of engagement of record and needle. The reproducer 59 is mounted so as to have free play during performance, but in order that it may engage each record at a definite point it is positioned while the arm 55 is lifted, Fig. 3, by a pin 161, cooperating with a V-shaped loop of wire 160, or by alternative means described in the Specification. Stereopticon controller. The motion of the reproducer carriage 57 is communicated through multiplying gearing to either a controller of rotary type or an insulated arm 188, Fig. 20, which moves over conducting bars 194<a> &c. on one of the faces of a drum 190 mounted on the shaft 14, which carries the record-holder 15. The arm 188 is lifted and lowered bv a rod 212 attached to the reproducer arm 62, Fig. 4. The negative main is connected through the bar 194<a> and finger 189<a> to fingers 189<b>, 189<c>, 189<d>, and thus (at the moment when the slide is to be changed) through a projection 195 on one of the bars 189b, 189<c>, 189<d>, slip rings 205<b>, 277<a>, &c., commutator segments 263<a>, 263<b>, or 263<c>, brushes 287, and motor 228 to positive main. The commutator 263 is rotated by the motor through mechanism shown in Fig. 13 so as to break contact between the brush 267 and live segment such as 263<a> The half-turn of the motor-shaft 232 (corresponding to one slide of the stereopticon) is completed in consequence of the closure of the motor circuit through a brush 283 or 284, Fig. 20, which bridges the segmental contact 281, 282. If owing to a fault a projection 195 on being connected, e.g. to a segment 263<a>, should fail to effect a half-turn of the motor, the next projection 195 will produce its effect twice over to restore correspondence with the gramophone. To this end the brush 267 is arranged to make contact with two segments 263a &c. simultaneously. Slide-changing device. Two lanterns are pro. vided corresponding to two slide-holders 215, which are intermittently rotated by the motor 228 through mechanism shown in Fig. 13', and from which the slides are exhibited alternately. To obtain dissolving views, the illuminating circuits of the lanterns 225 are closed by an arm 255 which revolves with the motor shaft 132 and gradually cuts in and cuts out suitable resistances. Each slide is held by a pair of spring plates 220, Fig. 14, and is moved by a frame 236 .on a rod 237 which is reciprocated by an arm 240 pivoted at 242. This arm is moved to withdraw a slide when a long pin 246 moving clockwise engages the cam 248. It is moved to present a slide when a pin 247 engages the cam surface 251, this pin being short enough to pass subsequently under the cam 248.